C 650 -] [iMat, 



MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



A dry March (for the few showers were inconsequential exceptions), has forwarded and 

 benefited the agriculture of the country to the utmost limit of the old rule ; but warm 

 April showers are now in request, to complete the prosjiect. The weather indeed, 

 during both months, has been remarkably variable, with high winds, occasional frosts, 

 and the general temperature has been low or cool. Never however did the productions 

 of the earth receive less damage from atmospheric influence ; and if the leaves of the 

 wheat in exposed situations have lost colour, our most important crop has received a 

 salutary check to that over luxuriance, which tends more to the production of straw 

 than corn. A great and commendable activity has pervaded the whole country ; the 

 utmost advantage has been taken of a most favourable spring, and it has liad its 

 reward, for never did the fields of Britain afford a fairer prospect of a generally plentiful 

 harvest. A fiivourable blooming season for the wheats and moderate rains, during the 

 reign of Saint Swithin, unattended by cold easterly winds, now form the chief object of 

 our solicitude. The clays, particularly in this county, never worked better, or turned 

 up a finer moidd to the harrow, promising a famous crop of beans. All the spring crops 

 «re finished, and indeed above ground, on forward soils. The barley on light soils, 

 -universally, is perhaps as thick-set, luxuriant and healthy a crop, as has been seen for 

 many years. The high wiiKls proved some impediment to sowing the small seeds, but 

 on the whole that brancii of culture has been got through successfully. Grasses both 

 natural and artificial have retained a fine healthy colour, though they are not very for- 

 ward. The blossom on fruit trees is remarkably plentiful, strong, and fixed ; wall 

 fruit, as occurs in most seasons, has sustained partial injury. The hop vine shoots \igo- 

 rously. The lands are in fine order for potatoe planting ; and doubtless will be equally 

 so for sowing turnips. We have had most favourable weather for carrying manure upon 

 the land. The writer cannot help smiling at being compelled by strict verity, through 

 almost every report, to make a display of overflowing plenty in all productions : as 

 though he had a retainer, influencing him to give a flattering state of the country. 



Wheat, the governing article, bears a considerable price, and prime samples are always 

 ready sale, which, considering the late crisis, seems to indicate that the stock in the 

 country cannot be so large as some speculators have judged : there need, however, be no 

 doubt that it is equal to our consumption until late in autumn, with some probable sur- 

 plus. The meat markets also, favoured by the weather — have been high, though in the 

 country fat stock has occasionally been reduced in price. Lean stores, perhaps with the 

 exception of pigs, have sold dear. The lambing season lias been most favourable — at- 

 tributable, in a great degree, to the dry vvcatlier, and tlie fall of lambs is beyond what we 

 have known for some years. IMilch cows somewhat reduced in price— barrcners in 

 demand. Butter in great plentj', and considerably cheaper than in our last. First-rate 

 cart and coach horses hold price ; all others, comparatively with last spring, considerably 

 reduced. English mules and asses in great demand for the Continent. The hop trade, 

 until last week a mere name, has suddenly revived ; a considerable demand is made ^nd 

 prices are much improved. The blighting whids and dry weather have occasioned this 

 change. The shortness of kst crop had not the usual effect, and speculators in that arti- 

 cle, perhaps, did not sufficiently attend to the stocks in hand, and probably an extended 

 culture: They have not been so fortunate as an Essex husbandman in the olden time, 

 who having a good crop in his little hop-garden, but being unable to turn them into money, 

 his neighbours being equally fortunate, he filled a bed-tick with hops instead of feathers, 

 and after sleeping upon them comfortably with his wife, during a couple of years, sold 

 them at a comfortable price. Wool is a mere drug, and the holders now find that they 

 had better have accepted last year's price. Timber and bark lower. Growth of silk at- 

 tempting in this country and Ireland ; this experiment has been made before and failed. 



Farmers have suffered severe losses in feeding cattle and sheep, during the p.-^st sea- 

 son, on account of the almost total tkilure of the turnip crop, the expensive substitutes 

 of hay and corn being of necessity resorted to. It lias even occurred that large fat 

 sheep have lost 20s. a head. A great number of labourers are still unemployed and 

 supported by their parishes : an extension of the regular drill husbandry, vltimafcli/ the 

 cheapest, would be, in some degree, remedial in this sad case. Population ' has in- 

 creased, is increasing, and ought not to be diminished,' but to be well and heartily fed; 

 to achieve which will reqniie our utmost agricultural exertions. As we conjectured in 

 a former report. Ministers have declined entering into the corn question, until' the 

 meeting of the new Parliament, a wise and politic determination in more senses than 

 one. Sheep-stealing has been added to horse-stealing !— originating in unrequited labour 

 and starvation ; a too general corruption of morals m the lower classes ; poacliing ; 

 and that national disgrace and infamy, the antiquated Game-I-aws, of which there ought 

 to be a thorough and drastic purge in the statute-books, to be followed by modern, just, 

 and expedient regulations. 



Stnithfidd.—VeeU is. to 5.V. — Mutton, 4*. 6d. to 5s. 6i.— Veal, 5s. id. to 6s. Sd.— 

 Pork, 5s. to 6«. D.iiry Fed, 6s. to 6s. 6rf.— Lamb, 6s. 2d. to 7s. 6a'— Raw Fat, 2«.— 

 Bacon (Wilts), 45. ICW. to Ss.— Irish, 4s. Id. per stone. 



